Mechanical responses of the isolated cervix of the day-22 pregnant rat to field stimulation

Summary Field stimulation of isolated, spirally-cut cervix from day-22 pregnant rats produced contractions which could be inhibited by tetrodotoxin or hyoscine and potentiated by propranolol. The rat cervix would appear to receive both cholinergic and noradrenergic innervations whose transmitters activate muscarinic cholinoceptors and -adrenoceptors respectively.We thank the Lalor Foundation, USA, for financial support.     

Immunofluorescent localization of the acid-stable proteinase inhibitor (antileukoprotease) of human cervical mucus.

Localization of the acid-stable proteinase inhibitor of human cervical mucus within the epithelium of the upper cervix was possible by indirect immunofluorescence.     

Beobachtungen zum Kopulationspfropf des Mäuseweibchens

Summary The copulation plug of the female mouse acts by stimulation of the cervix in very short time. The stimulation delays the onset of the next oestrus. Removal of the plug from the cervix or vagina does not diminish the number of females becoming pregnant following mating. Removal of the plug before coagulation diminishes the number of pregnancies. We ascribe this effect to the reduced number of spermatozoa. The post-partum-ovulation and gestation do not differ from other pregnancies.     

Immunofluorescent localization of the acid-stable proteinase inhibitor (antileukoprotease) of human cervical mucus

Summary Localization of the acid-stable proteinase inhibitor of human cervical mucus within the epithelium of the upper cervix was possible by indirect immunofluorescence.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Schi 86/5) and WHO, Geneva (Grants No. 76357) and No. 75080). Immunization of rabbit with HUSI-I was kindly performed by Dr N. Heimburger, Behring Werke AG, Marbuerg (Federal Republic of Germany). The skilful technical assistance of Miss I. Estelmann is acknowledged.     

A method to collect cervical smears from small breeds of monkeys

Summary A simple method is described to collect cervical smears and to have a clear view of cervix for small breed of monkeys. This method was found useful to collect adequate cytology smears with good preservation of cellular morphology.     

A method to collect cervical smears from small breeds of monkeys.

A simple method is described to collect cervical smears and to have a clear view of cervix for small breed of monkeys. This method was found useful to collect adequate cytology smears with good preservation of cellular morphology.     

Secificity of mouse endocervical cell response progesterone: presence of receptors]

The mouse cervical cell response to progesterone, corticosterone, and androgens was studied in vitro and comparatively by grafts on males. Contrary to the exocervical cells which responded more or less to the three steroid hormones, the endocervical cells responded exclusively to progesterone even in an estrogen free system. This result suggests the existence in the mouse endocervical cells of specific receptors to progesterone and indicates that the squamons cells of the uterine cervix have a different response to steroid hormones depending on where these cells are located.     

Divergent effects of hyperosmolality on stress-response (heat shock) protein expression in cultured human tumor cells: an immunocytochemical study

Exposing cells to adverse conditions usually elicits expression of stress-response (heat shock) proteins (srp). Here we show that hyperosmolar growth conditions do not uniformly affect srp expression in MCF-7 and HeLa S3 cells, derived from carcinoma of the breast and cervix, respectively. Thus, whereas srp 27 expression was increased in MCF-7, but not in HeLa S3, the opposite was the case with srp 72. On the other hand, hyperosmolality did not induce B-crystallin or ubiquitin in either cell line. These findings show that srp expression by the human tumor cells studied is non-coordinate, suggesting that each srp is independently modulated.     

Contributions in the domain of cancer research: Review¶Human papillomaviruses and their role in cervical cancer

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) have been linked to a variety of human diseases, most notably cancer of the cervix, a disease responsible for at least 200,000 deaths per year worldwide. Over 100 different types of HPV have been identified and these can be divided into two groups. Low-risk HPV types are the causative agent of benign warts. High-risk HPV types are associated with cancer. This review focuses on the role of high-risk HPV types in cervical tumorigenesis. Recent work has uncovered new cellular partners for many of the HPV early proteins and thrown light on many of the pathways and processes in which these viral proteins intervene. At the same time, structural and biochemical studies are revealing the molecular details of viral protein function. Several of these new avenues of research have the potential to lead to new approaches to the treatment and prevention of cervical cancer.     

Über die Verwendung von künstlichen radioaktiven Isotopen zur Erzielung von lokalisierten biologischen Strahlenwirkungen

Summary Intratumoral injection of an artificial radioactive isotope (radiozinc), suspended in a solution of pectin: The author has previously reported on a method, which consists in the utilization of an artificial radioactive isotope for the production oflocalized biological radiation effects, by means of intraperitoneal injections of radiozinc (Zn⁶³) suspended in a suitably prepared solution of pectin. This procedure was applied to a small number of cases of cancer of the ovaries, with severe peritoneal extension, and yielded rather interesting therapeutic effects in these particularly bad conditions. Evidently this method can be applied also to malignant fumors of cavitary organs, such as the urinary bladder etc.The author investigated further, whether this procedure would also be suitable for interstitial radiotherapy, as previously presumed. Subcutaneous and intramuscular injections of the same suspension of radiozinc in pectin were thus performed on rabbits and were not followed by any diffusion of radioactivity outside the injected areas, as shown both by autoradiographs and controls of blood specimens with a counter. For the purpose of preliminary clinical investigation two cases of extended cancer of the uterine cervix recieved injections of 15 millicuries of radiozinc suspended in pectin within the tumor and its immediate surroundings (these cases were also submitted to the usual X-ray and radium-therapy). Specimens of blood and urine were checked with a counter and showed practically no radioactivity. Distinct fibrinous spots were observed a tew days later at the points of injection. This special form of interstitial radiotherapy will presumably gain some practical significance, as it offers the advantage that no foreign bodies have to be inserted in tissues as it is the case with radium needles and radon seeds, pectin being very well tolerated and resorbed by living tissues.     

Influence of N-methylformamide on the development, the NAD synthesis, and the activity of the ADPR transferase of rat embryos

When N-methylformamide is administered to rats on the 11th day of pregnancy approximately 50% of the fetuses are resorbed and a reduced weight of the developed animals is found in comparison to the controls on the 21th day (delivery by Caesarian section). The toxic effect is increased by using nicotinamide and methionine. If a combination of these substances is employed practically all fetuses are resorbed. Tryptophan, however, has a considerably protective influence. N-Methylformamide has no influence on the NAD-synthesis induced by nicotinamide or tryptophan. It does, however, inhibits the activity of the ADPR transferase.     

Mitotic activity in the glandular epithelium of the rat small intestine after electrothermocoagulation of the tubero-infundibular region of the hypothalamus and simultaneous resection of the pineal gland]

Radio-frequency lesions of the tubero-infundibular region of the hypothalamus and simultaneous pinealectomy are performed in rats. The double operation is followed by a significant increase of mitotic rate in the small intestine glandular epithelium. This increase is higher than the addition of the effects that are caused by each operation.     

Variations of testosterone uptake by gonadotropic cells of the adenohypophysis of the rat

Testosterone (T) could be detected by immunocytochemistry after cryoultramicrotomy and T is likely bound on a binding site of a high affinity. Castration and adrenalectomy involve a swift disappearance of T in the gonadotropic cells. Synthesis of new binding sites was induced by daily T injection in the castrated and surrenalectomized Rat from 90 days. This synthesis is inhibited by cycloheximide. These data suggest that binding sites are proteins. The captation of T by the gonadotropic cells was diminished similarly at the diminution of T, afterwards, T captation was stabilized at a weak level which became stable for several weeks. It seems that immunocytochemistry permits the study of the variation of T captation by Rat pituitary gonadotropic cells.     

Influence of the pineal gland on the reproductive system of the male house mouse

Summary Procedures designed to express pineal-mediated antigonadotropic activity were performed upon male house mice. Neither blinding nor blinding plus olfactory bulbectomy of house mice resulted in testicular involution within 12 weeks. The pineal gland appears to be of little significance to reproduction in the house mouse.Supported by NICHHD grant No. HDO 7119-092.Supported by NICHHD grant No. 5P5 OHDO 8338.Supported by NSF grant No. SPI 7922 372.     

Some thoughts on the importance of insulin in the regulation of the blood glucose level

Insulin can influence rates of glucose utilization by muscle and possibly other tissues via both direct and indirect effects. It can control the rate of fatty acid mobilization from adipose tissue and the rate of fatty acid oxidation in muscle, and the latter inhibits glucose utilization and oxidation. Insulin may influence the levels of insulin-like growth factors I and II, both of which have effects on rates of glucose utilization by muscle. The intertissue cycle between glucose and lactate — the Cori cycle, which is influenced by insulin — may provide another novel mechanism for control of blood glucose. How far other anti-insulin hormones affect these processes is not clear.     

Location of allatostatic centers in the pars lateralis regions of the brain of the Colorado potato beetle

Summary Selective lesions in the pars intercerebralis and pars lateralis areas of the brain of the adult Colorado potato beetle were produced by radiofrequency cautery. The effect of these lesions on the corpus allatum activity, determined by the short-term in vitro radiochemical assay, revealed that gland inhibitory centers are located in the pars lateralis.     

Role of ACTH on the cytomorphology of testes of the immature rat

Summary The male gametogenic development of the immature rat shows inhibitory effect by the exogenous infusion of ACTH (0.25 IU and 0.50 IU; i.p.). Seminiferous tubular degeneration, Leydig cell atrophy and Sertoli cell regression are very conspicuous in the dosage of 0.50 IU ACTH (i.p.). Cytometrical and histological evidence confirms that ACTH could be inhibited by FSH during male gametogenic development which leads to cellular degeneration of testes in the immature rat.This work is supported by CSIR, Project No. JRF 37. We thank Md. K. Doubet for photomicrography.     

On the mechanism of the amphetamine induced vasodilatation at the rat's cerebral cortex

Summary Cerebral cortical blood flow was measured with the hydrogen clearance technique. It was found that the increase in CoBF induced by amphetamine is blocked by atropine or chlorpromazine.This work was supported by grants from Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas and Consejo de Investigaciones de la Provincia de Santa Fé, Argentina.